Box stitcher



W. O. SIMS BOX STITCHER April 25, 1939.

Filed July 15, 1935 12 Sheets-Sheet l April 25, 1939. w. o. SIMS BOX STITCHER Filed July 1s, 1955 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS.

. Ap i 1939- w. o. SIMS BOX STITCHER Filed July 15, 1935 12 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR W/zu/m 0. 5015 1124144 ATTORNEY W. O. SIMS BOX STITCHER April 25, 1939.

12 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 15, 1935 INVENTOR W/zL/A/v 0. 5M5

April 25, 1939. w. 0., sms

. BOX STITCHER Filed July 15, 1935 12 Shets-Sheet 5 7 Fig.8

. INYENTOR. W/LL/AMQ 51m ATTORNEYS- W. O. SIMS BOX STITCHER April 25, 1939.

Filed July 15, 1955 12 Sheets-Sheet 6 m m m5 w M Mm M April 1939- y w. o. SIIMS 2,156,165

BOX STITCHER Filed vJuly" 15; 19:55 12 Shets-Sheet s A WA INVENTOR.

W/LL/AM O. SW5,

BY M adj 4w ATTORNEYS.

A ril 25, wa 'W SM Y 2,1 56,165

- I BOX STTLTGEER Filed July. 15, 1955 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 H A20 r WI Md 1 a W/u/AMQ SIMS.

Fig.2.; H924 ATTORNEYS.

w. o. sums BOX STITCHER A il 25, 1939.

Filed July 15, 1935 12 Sheets-Sheet l0 & 3% V AW nu B i Q Q W. O; SIM$ BOX STITCHER April 25', 19391.

Fi led Jui-y 15, 1955 12 Sheets-Sheet 12 INVENTORQ W/LL/A/v 0. 31 75 I ,m W ATTORNEYS.

Eatente d Apr. 25, 193% pox s'rr'ronnn William 0. Sims, Niagara Falls, N. 2., asslgnor to Harris-Seybold-Potter Company, Cleveland,

12 Claims.

. This invention relates to improvements in box stitchers, that is to say improvements in stapling machines designed particularly for use in securing together in operative relation the various parts of fiberboard boxes from: blanks cut to proper dimensions for the purpose.

One of. the objects of the invention is the provision of a low cost manually operated machine of this character which shall be convenient and 19 eifective in operation. V I

Another object is the provision of a novel stitcher head mechanism capable of easy manual operation. I

Another object is the provision of stitcher '15 mechanism embodying a'load and fire operation of the former slide, the feeding of the wire for the staple being efiected while the energyv for driving the former slide is being'bullt up.

Still another object is the provision of a novel clincher arm so constructed and mounted as to he capable ofbeing folded into the machine column when not inuse, where it is entirely out of the way and cannotdetract, from the neat appearance of the machine.

Another object is the provision of an effective and quickly adjustable spool mountingcomprising' tension means for retarding or damping spool rotation to the desired extent.

Another object is the provision of a novel wire feed.

Still another object is theprovision of novel pedal mechanisms for operating the stitcher head and for tilting the clincher post. I

Other objects and features of novelty will ap- I pear as I proceed with the description of that embodiment of the invention which, for the purposes of the present application, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. l is a side elevational view of a machine 40 embodying the invention. 7 v

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. v

Fig. 3 is a side view on a larger scale showing the base of the machine with the pedals and their connections. e

Fig.4 is a plan .view of the same partially. in

section on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the stitcher head and wire feed partially in section on the line 5-5 of Fig-1, but on a larger" scale.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental detail side elevational view of a portion of the machine column. with the clincher arm in operative position.

Fig. 7 is a. similar view with the clincher arm 55 swung down into inoperative position.

stantially on the line 9--9 of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a fragmental elevational view, partly 5 in section on the line ill-l0 of Fig. 1, showing Fig. 8' is a rear elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 6. t v Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view taken sub-' the clincher arm in folded position.

Fig. 11 .is a horizontal sectional view at the position indicated by line l!--it of Fig. 10, and also by theline ll--ll of Fig. 1, but viewed from 10 the side opposite that shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 12 is a horizontal -section substantially on the line l2- -l2 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 1a is a hdrizontal section of Fig. 10.

Figs. 14,. 15, 16 and 17 are vertical sectional views taken substantially on the line Ml'l of Fig. 2, showing the stitching mechanism in sue cessive positions on the operating or down stroke.

Fig. 18 is a detailed front elevational view on as a, larger scale of the lower portion of the stitcher head, looking in the direction of the arrows ll8 of Fig. 1e.

Fig. 19 is a vertical sectional view of the same taken on a plane parallel with the front face oil 26 the head as indicated by the line ill-l of Fig.

Figs. 20 andZl are vertical sectional views taken substantially along the line 2B- 2l of Fig.

1, showing the wire feed mechanism set for min- 30 imum and maximum feed, respectively.

Figs. 22 and 23 are detail elevational views of a pawl and pawl holder used in connection with the wire feed. l

Fig. 24 is a detail sectional view of the same 3 taken substantially on the line 2i2 l of Fig. 23.

Fig. 25 is a. vertical sectional view showing a portion of the wire feed mechanism, taken substantially on the line 2525 oi Figs. 2 and 27.

Fig; 26 is a vertical sectional view taken sub stantially on the line 2626 of Figs. 2 and 27.

Fig. 27 is a horizontal sectional view of the wire feed taken substantially on the line 2l2'l km the line as-i e of Figs. 2 and 25.

Fig. 28 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 2828 of Fig. 25.

Fig. 29 is a detail elevational view showing a fragment of the upper end of the clincher post with'its reversible clincher block.

, Fig. 30 is a plan view of the same, as indicated by the line till--38 of Fig. 29.

' Fig. 31 is a fragmentary elevation of the lower end of the stitcher head with the wire guide, showing parts selected and adjusted to'cut short staples. as

structure.

Fig. 32 is a detail view of the wire spool and its mounting, the view being taken principally in vertical section on the line 3232 of Fig. 2,-

Similar reference characters refer to like parts throughout the views.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, is the base of the machine formed as a casting which is sufllciently heavy to lend considerable stability to the attached a hollow column 36. of the base there are aligned pivots 31- supporting a post holder 36 in which is mounted a clincher post 39. The upper end 46 of the column is formed separately and includes a forwardly extending horizontal arm 4|, the parts 46 and 4| both being hollow. The lower and upper sections 36 and 46 of the column may be provided with flanges 42 and 43, which may be secured together by means of screws 44, see Fig. 10. On the forward end of arm 4| is mounted the stitcher head 45, which carries the wire feed housing 46 and the mounting for the wire spool 41. A clincher arm 46 is hinged at 49 onthe column, and is adapted to fold down into the column through a slot 56 formed in the forward wallthereof.

more in detail.

Base and ,foot levers-The base 35 is preferably provided with holes 6| through which ported. A second, somewhat smaller, boss 66 isformed alongsideboss 62, and is made hollow to conveniently receive and hold the post 39 when the latter is not in use.

In the base just in advance of boss 62 I mount a shaft 56 which is preferably held from rotation by a screw 51. The shaft 66 extends across a cavity 66 in the base into which projects the rear end of a foot pedal 69, whose rear extremity is bifurcated and is rotatably mounted upon the shaft 66. There is also mounted on the shaft 66 between the bifurcations of the pedal 69 a lever 66, which is shaped somewhat like a crescent. The forward end of this lever is adiustably connected with pedal 69 by a screw 6|. screw the angle between the pedal and the lever may be varied, in order that the height of the foot pad 62 on the front end of the pedal may be changed to suit the convenience 'of the operator. In the operation of the machine the pedal 66 and the lever 66 of course move as one lever. On its rear end the lever 66 is connected by means of a pivot 63 with the lower end of a reciprocating link or bar 64, the upper end of the latter being pivoted at 65 to a lever 66 inside the hollow arm 4|, this lever being pivotally mounted at 61. The

forward end of pedal 69 is oflset. as illustrated in Fig. 4, so as to lie to one side of the base. After actuation the foot pedal and bar 64 are returned to normal position by a spring 64a. 7

To the rear end of the base there is Near the front end of the base.

Having referred briefly to the principal elements of the machine, I will now describe the various parts By means of this,

The post holder 96, as previously mentioned, is mounted up'on pivots 31. These pivots are cylindrical members, each of which has an inner end formed as a frustum of a cone, the holder 36 having aligned bearing openings receiving the conical inner ends of the pivots 31. These pivots may be adjusted inwardly by means of screws 66 having large flat heads which engage flat seats in the outer ends of the pivots 31. These, pivotal mountings? are carried entirely by a separable plate or cover 69 which is removably secured in position on the base by screws 16.

The post support 36 which tilts upon the pivots 61 includes a depending extension 1| which pro- Jects down through an opening in the hollow base. The extension 1| is pivotally connected at 12 to the forward end or a link 13, the rear end of which is pivoted to a crank, 14 that is keyed to a rock shaft 15 mounted in the base parallel to the shaft 66. This shaft15 is held against movement longitudinally in one direction by a collar 16 pinned to the shaft and bearing against a side wall of the base 35, and, in the other direction by the hub of a pedal 11 pinned to the shaft outside The pedal 11 is therefore arranged outside of the base on the side opposite the pedal 59, and the foot pad 16 of this pedal is preferably arranged substantially opposite the foot pad 62. The operator stands between these two foot pedals in a position which makes it convenient for him to press upon the pad 62 with his right foot and upon the pad 16 with his left foot.

When the pedal 11 is depressed the crank 14 swings toward the rear and the link 13 pulls the extension 1| rearwardly, thereby tilting the upper end of the post 39 forwardly and moving it out from under the stitcher head 45, so that a completed box may be removed from the post and a a new blank put in position over the post for stitching.

In order that the post 69 may return automatically to operative position when pressure upon the pedal 11 is released, I attach a coil spring" to the pivot 66 which connects crank 14 and link 13. This spring extends forwardly to thefront' end of the base where it -is anchored by some convenient means, as for instance by attachment to a threaded stud 6|. link 16 to swing the post support on its pivots, forcing the'extension 1| forward. Its movement This spring of course acts through a in the latter direction is limited by stop 62 which y is threadably mounted in the base 35 and may be locked in a desired position of adjustment by a set screw 66. By means of this adjustable stop it is evident that'the post 39 may be brought into accurate alignment with the stitcher head mechanism, that is in so far as its position in-the principal vertical plane of the machine is conpost by a pin 66 which projects through aligned slots 61 in the post 39 and through a hole in the holder 66. In order that the clincher holder may be adjusted vertically, it is provided with an externally threaded portion 66 upon which is mounted a nut 69 that rests upon the top edge of the post. Above the nut 69 there is a lock nut 96.

- The reversible clincher block.--In Figs. 29 and and that the holder has a vertical split 92 therein running from the front to the rear of the holder. The right and left portions of the holder on opposite sides of the split 82 are arranged .to be drawn together by a screw, so as to clamp the clincher block 94 securely in place.- The block 94 on both of its opposite surfaces has a pair of parallel shallow grooves 85 which extend the entire length of the block from front to rear and serve to turn in or clinch the legs of a staple when the latter is driven downward through the.

work as indicated in Fig. 29. where the staple is marked S and the work is marked W. It will be apparerft that no adjustment of the clincher block in a direction parallel to the principal vertical plane of the machine is since the grooves 95 are much of the wire from which the staple is formed. The length of life of the clincher block is doubled byforming the grooves .85 in two surfaces rather than in one, enabling the operator to reverse the block after the' clinching surfaces on one side thereof have become unduly worn. V

Disappearing clincher arm-For certain classe of work the clincher post 89 is removed from the means may be provided for turning the of the base.

post holder 38 after the clamping screw 84 has been loosened, and the post slipping it' into the socket formed in the boss 55 Clinching of the staples is then performed by a clinching block in the outer end of the clincher arm 48 previously, mentioned. Arm B8 is supported on pivots 48 that are adjustable for wear by means of headed screws 98, and are locked in adjusted position by set screws 91.

The pivots 49 are preferably so located that they occupy a position near the front of the hollow column section ill and near that edge of the arm 48 which is uppermost when the arm is inoperative position. In the latter position the arm is supported mounted column, the against the particularly in a boss 09 in the rearwall of the forward end of the screw abuttin rear end of the arm 58, as shown in Figs. 6 and 9. Any convenient screw 88, that illustrated consisting of a small hand-wheel Ito pinned to the screw. nut IEiI with a hand-wheel grip, which may be turned up against the boss 89 to hold the parts firmly against accidental displacement. when it is desired to retract thearm 48, the nut I06. is loosened and the screw 98 is turned backwardly to an extent somewhat greater than that indicated in Fig. 7 The arm 48 is then free to fall by gravity to a position somewhat forward of that illustrated in Fig. '7, that is far enough to permit the shoulder I02 to pass the end of the screw.

Ihe operator then pushes the lower end of the arm 48 in flush with the forward surface of the column, and turns the screw 98 forwardcausing it to engage firmly beneath the shoulder I02,

in the hollow column as to clear the arm 48 and the screw 88-, both'of which are substantially in of the column; Spool-mountin'a-An upstanding bracket I03 is bolted or otherwise secured to the top of the stitcher head 45. In the upper part of this bracket there are horizontal, intercomrrmnicating,

having a keyway longer than the width is then stored by' by a screwsd thatv is threadably I also provide a look I ,These forks carry a pin axially aligned bores 104 and I080! diflerent diameters, as shown in Fig. 32." The reduced rear end of a spindle I06 fits slidab ly in the bore I05 and projects through the bore I05. The spindle is free to move longitudinally in the II" which is engaged by the smooth end of a set screw I08 mounted inthe bracket. A coil spring I08 positionedin bore "I05 surrounding the spindle engages a washer .IIO on the spindle held in place by a nut III. The spring I08 exerts force tending to move the spindle rearwardly andto holdshoulder II2 onthe spindle up against bracket.

The spindle I06 is adapted to receive a metallic or other spool 41 upon which the wire for the staples is wound.v One side wall of the spool bears against the forward surface of bracket I08 surrounding the spindle opening therein, and these engaging surfaces present friction which is utilized to prevent rotation of the spool more rapidly than the rate of feed of the wire required. Other the forward face of the bracket,

friction surfaces .areprovided on the forward side of the spool by a collar I I3 with a smooth bore and with aflat rear face engaging the forward wall of the spool. This collar is held against rotation by a pin I I4 which projects into agroove or keyway H5 in the forward threaded end of spindle I08. The collar I I3 has a forwardly extending hub H6, and this hub is surrounded by an annular flange III on -a nut II8 which is .threadably mounted on the spindle. A set screw IIS is threaded through the flange II! and may be caused to engage the hub N8 of collar II8 when any desired adjustment of nut I I8 has been effected, thereby preventing any accidental variation of the adjustment. It will be apparent that when the nut I I8 is tightened down the collar H3 is forced rearwardly and the spindle I08 is pulled forwardly against the tension of spring I09, increasing the friction on-both-sides of the spool, and that looseningthe nut. II8 has the opposite eflectJ Wire feedire coming down of! the spool 51 entersa. tubular guide I20 carried in the upper wall of the wire feed housing 46, Figs. 5. and 26, is gripped between two feed rollers or'disks HI and I22, Fig. 2'7, and passes into another tubular guide I23 carried by the lower wall of the housing 46, and thence down to the lower end of the stitcher head where The forward end of the rocking lever 84 is forked, as plainly illustrated in Figs. 27 and 28. I24. which is received by vertically-spaced jaws of a cross-head I25. This the staple is formed.

cross-head moves vertically in guides formed in holder I34 which extends at one point beyond the periphery -of.the gear, where it carries a pivot I35. A pawl I36 is mounted on this pivot. The tail of the pawl I36 is extended sidewise -and is engaged by a pin I31 slidably mounted in the holder I34 and pushed outwardly by a-coil spring .I38. This spring and pin tend to move the pawl to operative position.-

Directy behind the front wall of the gear housing as there is a circular plate I39 which has a housing. In this thickened portionthere'are'two spanner wrench holes I by means of which the plate may be turned for adjustment purposes. It

'is held against accidental displacement by 'bolts I42 which extend through arcuate slots in the plate. Extending through about half the periphery of'the plate I39 there is an inwardly projecting flange I43 which is wide enough to overhang the pawl holder I34 and pawl I36. At one end this flange has a beveled surface I44. There is a correspondingly beveled surface I45 on the tail end of pawl I36. when the pawl holder rotates counterclockwise, as viewed in Figs. 20 to 23 inclusive, to the point where the beveled surfaces I44 and I45 engage each other, the pawl I36 is rocked on its pivot and withdrawn from operative position. During further rotation in the same direction the tail end of the pawl slides upon the inner surface of flange I43 and the forward or toothed end of the pawl is held out of operative position, as indicated in Fig. 22.

Intermediate the ends of the stub shaft I32 there is an integral collar or flange I46. On the rear side of this collar I mount a sleeve I41 with an annular flange I48. The sleeve I41 carries an annular ratchet Wh8\.. I49 on one side of the flange I48, and on the other side it carries one of the wire feed rollers or lisks IZI and a ring gear I50. The parts I49, I21 and I50 are all secured to each other and to the flange I48 by and 21.

' ment with ratchet ineffective.

severalscrews I5I, as indicated Figs. 25 and 27.

A small gear I52 meshes with gear I50 and rotates freely upon a stub shaft I54 which extends loosely through a slot I55 in the gear housing, and is anchored outside of the-housing in the upper end of a lever I56 which is pivotally mounted on a stud I51 mounted in the housing 46, as shown particularly in Fig. 26. The lower end of this .lever is urged toward the left, as viewed in Figs. 2 and 5, by plunger I58 and coil spring I59 mounted in a bore I60 in the rear wall of the housing, see Fig. 25. By this means the wire feeding idler roller I22 is held yieldably in wire gripping rel: tion with roller I2I.

In order to prevent the sleeve I41 and the parts carried thereby from turning in a reverse direction, I provide a friction brake consisting of a plunger I6I with a leather facing I62, the plunger being slidably mounted in a bore I63 in the rear wall of the, housing and being backed by a coil spring I64 which is also mounted in bore I63 and particularly in holds the plunger with predetermined forceagainst the rear face of the gear I50.

As the cross-headdescends the rack I26 .turns pinion I21. This motion is transmitted through gears I 30 and I3I to pawl holder I34 which trav- .eis in a counterclockwise direction through something more than one-half a revolution. At the beginning of the descent the pawl I36 is always at the position indicated in full lines in Figs. 20 When the flange I43 is adjusted to the of Fig. 20, the pawl remains in engagewheel I49 until it reaches the dotted line position A. Thereafter, on the rest of the descent of the cross-head the pawl is The rotation of the wire feeding rollers HI and I22 therefore takes place only during the early part of the descent of the crossposition head. The flange I43 as illustrated in Fig. 20'

is in the minimum feed position. It may be ad dusted, by means of a spanner wrench, in engagement with holes I, to any position between that arsenals returning the pawl holder to its original position, during which movement the pawl merely rides over the teeth on theratchet wheel. a

stitcher meohanism.-The stitcher mechanism comprises two main elements, the former slide and the driver slide, as isusual in mechanisms of this kind. The former slide is shown at the driver slide at I66. As will appear from Fig. 33, the formerslide has aguide groove I61 in its forward face which slidably receives the driver slide I66, the forward surfaces of the two slides being flush with each other.

The driver slide I66 is longer than the slide I65 and extends upward far enough to be secured to cross-head I25 by a series of fastenings I68. The slide I65 might be said to be a floating slide, as it has no positive connection with the cross-head nor with slide I 66., A coil spring I69 is interposed between the cross-head and the slide I65, and extends at its lower end into a socket I10 in the top ofjformer slide I65, projecting upwardly therefrom into a cylindrical bore "I in the cross-head I25. This bore is threaded at its upper end to receive a threaded plug I 12, which is a convenience in assembly and repair and also serves as an adjustment for the spring I69 should any adjustment be required.

The movement of former slide I65 with respect to the casing is limited by a pin I13 into the slide and runningfin a groove I14 in the casing. Relative movement between the two slides is also limited by a pin I15 set into the and running in a groove or slot I 16 in the former slide. In the operation of the stitcher the driver slidemoves downwardly from its top position, illustrated in Fig. 14, to the position shown in Fig. 15, the former slide remaining fixed.

to drive and clinch the staple.

The former slide is held in the position of Fig. 14 during the first part of the downward movement of the cross-head by means of a latch I11 hung from a pivot I18 in theforward wall of the casing, this latch taking into a notch I19 I65 and subarea I88 to force the cam I82 forward, indicated in that figure, and'the latch I'll is therebywith drawn from operative position. In the meantime, the spring I69 has been contracted to the stored energy in the spring until the parts reach.

the position shown in Fig; 16, where the travel of the former slide with respect to the driver slide is interrupted by the stop pin I15. The

two slides then move together for a very short distance, or until the stop pin I13 engages the lower end of slot I'll, where the descent of the former slide is terminated positively.

serves to carry downwardly the driver slide I alone until such time as the stop pin I15 reaches the lower extremity of slot I16, which terminates the travel of that slide. The feeding movement of the wire feeding means all takes place during the first part of the descent of the cross-head, while the former slide I65 remains latched up.

Consequently, when the former slide starts downward the wire .for'the staple is in position ready to be cut off and bent.

The cutting of the wire is performed by a knife I81 mounted in the lower end .of one armof the former slide, moving over the face of a small die I88 which has an aperture I89 through which thewire is projected. In Fig. 5 the machine is shown set up for comparatively long staples, while in Fig. 31 it is set up for short staples. This is accomplished by varying the distance between the knife I81 and-the adjacent active face of the former slide, and by moving ,the block tilt in which the die I88 is carried. The

inner face of this block is flush with the face of die S88, and is held up against the knife I81 and the former slide-by a flat spring I9I secured to the casing at E92, as indicated in Fig. 5. The block lull carries a wire guide i93 through which the wire sses on its way from the tubular guide iii; to the die I88.

In the casing in front of the slideguides, I

mount an anvil lever I94 which is hung from a pivot the and is urged rearwardly by a pin I96 mounted in a flat spring E91, the latter being fastened to the casing by a screw E98. The anvil lever extends laterally on one side where it has a flat rear surface I99 which engages the forward surface of the former to hold the anvil in proper position for ,the reception of the wire which is 'caused to extend through the anvil slot 2%, the latter being preferably inclined slightly, upward on the right hand side so that the wire when fed through the anvil slot inclines upward slightly toward the right as viewed in Fig. 34. Consequently, when the former slide descends the wire is first gripped between the anvil and the right-hand portion of the former slide so as to be held securely during the wire cutting operation. Fig. 34 shows a length of wire gripped in this manner with the knife I8? about to sever the wire.

On a pivot 2M in the former slide I mount a shoe 2% which has a concave forward face 208 at its lower end that is adapted to extend beheath the formed staple and cooperate with the wire grooves in the internal faces of the former for supporting the staple until the driver slide forces it into. the work. The upper part of the Further downward movement of the cross-head then" also has-a cam surface whichengages the end of a hall-headed spring plunger 206 mounted 208 which is adapted to engage the wire and do the work of driving the staple. -A lower corner of the driver slide engages a cam surface on the toe of the anvil to push the latter forward'out than others.

" of the way just before the plate 208 comesinto contact with the wire.

In driving the staple the shoe 202 is carried downwardly bythe former slide. As soon as the shoe has passed the anvil the spring plunger -20! engages it and rocks it on its pivot until it assumes the position shown in Fig. 16. when the formers are resting on the work the shoe has been pushed all the way forward. The driver now movesdownwardly pushing the staple before it. The underside of the crown of the staple bears on the concave surface on the front of the shoe.

and as the staple enters the work the shoe is forced back out of the path of the staple by the staple itself and the rear corner of the driver plate 206. As the shoe moves back the spring in the ball-headed plunger 205 is compressed. The stitch having been driven, the driver slide moves upward, allowing the spring plunger 205 to again push the shoe 262 to its forward position. When the driver has moved upward until the pin I16 engages the upper end of slot I, the former slide also starts to move upward, carrying the shoe with it. As the shoe rises it moves out of engagee ment with plunger 205, and the upper cam on the rear of the shoe comes in contact with the ballheaded pin 2% which, as the slide moves upward, rocks the point of the shoe back out of the path of the anvil.

' Operation-The functioning of the pedal mechanism and of the wire feeding mechanism, it is believed, will be clear from the foregoing description. The operation of the staple forming and driving mechanism however may be made somewhat clearer by a short statement. of the steps which are performed. The operation is what 1 term a load and fire operation, because the steps of gripping the wire, cutting the wire,

and forming the staple are all accomplished by a trigger release of energy which has been previously built up during the first portion of the down stroke of the cross-head. It is desirable that all of the operations of the wire feeding, gripping, and cutting, andstaple forming and driving be performed during the down stroke of the cross-head. it is desirable also that the physical effort on the. part of the operator and the length of pedal movement be kept within reasonable limits. It is obviously difilcult to perform all-of these operations seriatim with one push of the pedal. It is also obvious'that certain of the steps require a greater amount of power The wire feeding step for example is relatively easy as compared with the step of staple driving and clinching. It'is best of course to distribute the efiort as equally as possible throughout the pedal stroke.

In accordance with the present invention the pedal movement which must be employed for feeding the wire is also used for building up energy in a spring, and when that movement is completed the spring is released and the energy stored up therein performs almost instantane ously the gripping, cutting-and bending of the wire staple, after which the final pedal movement is utilized for driving and clinching the staple.--

The foregoing steps are-illustrated in the order ingly. This part of the driver slide movement completes the wire feed and also compresses the spring I 69. At the point illustrated in Fig. the latch I11 is withdrawn and the former slide is released. The spring I69, in which considerable energy has been built up, immediately and forcibly drives the former slide downwardly, gripping the wire between the former and the anvil, as shown in Fig. 34, then severing the wire, and then bending the wire to form the staple. At the end of this movement the two side members of theformer are resting upon the work and the staple is in position above the work ready to be driven. This is the stage illustrated in Fig. 16. Thereafter the stop pin I13 holds the former slide while the driver slide continues its downward movement for driving and clinching the staple.

The operator now releases his pressure on the pedal andthe cross-head I25 moves upward. In the first part of the upward movement the driver slide I 65 carries pin I15 upward until it strikes the top of slot I16. 'I'hereupon the former slide I65 is carried upwardly with the driver slide until the pin I13 strikes the top of slot I14, in other words until the parts are again in their original position of Fig. 14. At that time the latch lever I 11 swings rearwardly, latching up the former slide. All of the parts, including the ratchet pawl I36 of the wire feeding mechanism, are then in condition for performing the next stitch.

In' the foregoing description I have necessarily gone somewhat into'detail in order to explain fully the particular embodiments of the invention herein illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that such detail disclosures are-not to be construed as amounting to limitations, except as they may be included in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a stapling machine, a hollow supporting column, a clincher arm pivoted to said column, said column having a slot in the front wall thereof below said pivot to enable the arm to enter the column when it is swung down into inoperative position, and a screw mounted in the rear wall of the column adapted to engage said arm for supporting it in the operative position and also for securing it in theinoperative position.

2. In a stapling machine, a hollow supporting column, a clincher arm pivoted to said column,

said column having a slot in the front wall there-- of below said pivot to enable the arm to enter the column when it is swung down into inoperative position, the pivot for the arm being positioned near the front 'wall of the column and near the upper edge of the arm, and a screw mounted in the rear wall of the column .belowthe level of said pivot adapted to engage the arm for supporting it in the operative position and "also for securing it in the inoperative position.

3. In a stapling machine, a hollow supporting column, a stitcher head carried thereby, a clincher arm pivoted to said column and adapted when not in use to be folded-down into the column, and

mounted in one end of said base, stitching mechanism mounted on the column, a clincher post pivotally mounted in the-other end of the base to tilt on a transverse axis, means mounted approximately along the central longitudinal plane of the base for tilting said post, a lever mounted in the opposite end of, the base substantially along said central longitudinal plane, mechanism operated by the lever for actuating the stitching mechanism of the machine, a foot pedal mounted on either side of the base, and operative connection between one of said pedalsand said post tilting means and between the other of said pedals and said lever.

5. In a stapling machine, a base, a clincher post pivotally mounted above its lower extremity in the front end of said base to tilt on a transverse axis, a transverse rock shaft mounted in the base to the rear of the post, a foot pedal secured to said shaft and extending forwardly to one side of the pivotal mounting ofthe post, and operative connections located within the base extending from said rock shaft to the lower end mounting of the post, operative connections located within the base for causing the oscillations of said shaft to impart tilting movements to said post, a stop for limiting the movement of the post in one direction, and a tension spring mounted in the base acting upon said shaft and through said connections to hold the post up against the stop.

7. In a stapling machine, a former slide, a driver slide, operating. means operatively connected with the driver slide for reciprocating the latter, a spring between the driver slide and former slide adapted to be energized as the driver slide descends relatively to the former slide, means for latching up the former slide during the first part of the movement of the driver slide, and means for releasing said latching means when the'driver slide has descended to a predetermined P int.

8. In a stapling machine, a former slide, a driver slide, wire feeding means, means for reciprocating the driver slide, operative connections .between the driver slide and the wire feeding 'means'for feeding a length of wire during the flrst part of the descent of the driver slide, a

spring between the driver slide and former slide adapted-to be energized as the driver slide degscendsrelatively to the former slide, means for latching up the former slide during the said first part of the movement of the driver slide, and means for releasing said latching means at the end of said first part of the driver slide movement. a 9. In a stapling machine, a former slide, a driver slide, a cross-head slidable up'and down, and operative connections between said crosshead and slides acting-to depress said driver slide only for a predetermined distance, and then to force down the former slide rapidly to its operative position for forming the staple, the movement of the driver slide continuing thereafter for the driving of the staple. a

10. In a stapling machine, a former slide, a

driver slide, operating means for imparting a continuous downward movement to the driver slide, a load and fire means actuated by the driver slide for building up energy above the former slide during the first part of the downward movement of the driver slide and for releasing said energy at a predetermined point in the descent of the driver slide to force the former slide rapidly down to operative position.

11. In a stapling machine, a former 'slide, a driver slide, operating means for imparting downward movement to the driver slide, a latch for holding the former slide in elevated position, a spring interposed between the driver slide and former slide which is energized while the former slide is latched up and the driver slide is deseending, and cam means actuated by the driver slide for releasing said latch when the driver slide reaches a predetermined position, wheredriver slide, stop means for limiting the extent of downward travel of the former slide, stop means between the former slide and driver slide for limiting the relative vertical movement be-,

tween the two slides, and operating means for imparting downward movement to the driver slide until said relative movement is taken up, continuing said downward movement of the driver slide and moving theformer slide downward to the extent of its possible movement, continuing the downward movement of the driver slide until the relative movement is again taken up, raising the driver slide until the relative movement between them is taken up, then raising the two slides together until they both reach the tops of their strokes.

WILLIAM O. SIMS. 

